RevitalizationofRivers In IndiaDraftPolicy Recommendation of Conservation Practice 22 (CP-22) (Riparian buffer) are guaranteed as given below. 16 10-15 years of annual rental payments with an additional 20% Rental Rate Incentive Payments covering up to 90% of the eligible costs of establishing the practice – 50% from a Cost-Share Payment and 40% from a Practice Incentive Payment (PIP) Sign-up Incentive Payment (SIP) up to $100/acre Maintenance Rate Incentive Mid-Contract Management Cost Share NEBRASKA, USA 17 Nebraska has a buffer strip program wherein the government pays the farmer a “rental rate” of $20 to $250 per acre to plant streamside buffer strips. Rates depend on the soil type, whether land is irrigated and whether farmers are enrolled in other programs. Streamside buffers are generally seen as extremely important by all US state forestry services. Cropland adjacent to perennial and seasonal streams, ponds, and wetlands can be enrolled in buffer strips, which are designed to filter agrichemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides. Two kinds of buffer strips are eligible – filter strips, which are narrow strips of grass, and riparian forest buffer strips containing trees and grass. The minimum widths are 20 and 55 feet, respectively; the maximum widths are 120 and 180 feet, respectively. COON VALLEY, WISCONSIN, USA 18 Starting from 1935, the US government worked with farmers to restore the Coon valley. After a few years, they found better dry season flows, reduced flood peaks, and healthier soil. Forest cover went up from 37% in 1939 to 50% in 1993. 81

RevitalizationofRivers In IndiaDraftPolicy Recommendation CASE STUDIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD CASE STUDIES FROM LATIN AMERICA SAO PAULO, BRAZIL 19 Brazil is pursuing an ecosystem restoration of riparian forests in Cerrado. The development objective of the Ecosystem Restoration of Riparian Forests in Sao Paulo Project is to support long-term, large-scale restoration of the riparian forests at Cerrado, and the Atlantic Forest biomes. This is to be done through the development and harmonization of policy, regulatory, economic, and technological tools and mechanisms, while providing opportunities for improved livelihoods, and economic wellbeing of rural communities. THE PROPOSED SOLUTION Afforestation of a minimum of 1 kilometer width for the entire stretch on either side of large rivers is the solution proposed to augment the source of water and revive the flow in the rivers. The fundamental reason behind this solution is the role forests play in closing the hydrology cycle, the effect they have on groundwater aquifers, soil and in stabilizing the climate. In this section we take a scientific look at how trees can perform all these functions. EFFECT OF AFFORESTATION ON RAINFALL Trees as permanent green cover have a significant impact on stabilizing precipitation patterns. 20 This is achieved by the evapotranspiration of trees that seed the passing rain clouds, thereby making it rainin and around the tree cover itself. This adds to the flow of the river too. This phenomenon is described below. Increased rainfall 21 - Trees attract water-laden clouds to precipitate. As forests disappear, precipitation will also reduce in the area, in and around the river floodplains. River flows over time reflect an increase in 82